Three-Quarters of Israeli Jews Oppose Creation of Palestinian State in Pre-1967 Borders

An Israeli soldier stands guard during a tour in the Jordan Valley near the Jewish settlement of Maale Efrayim(Reuters)

A new poll conducted by the right-wing think-tank Jewish Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) has found that 75% of Israeli Jews oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders.

The poll took into account the answers of 505 Jewish Israelis divided by their political leanings. Of those polled, 304 identified themselves as right-wing, 125 as centrists and 68 as left-wing.

The survey showed that 92% of right-wing respondents are opposed to a Palestinian state within the 1967 lines, while 72% of the left-wing participants were in favour of the initiative.

The JCPA organisation, whom commissioned the poll, is headed by a former policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Left-wing commentators within Israel have reacted to the poll by claiming that it is an "accurate reflection" of the reality on the ground in the country.

"The poll published in Israel Hayom is obviously meant to serve Netanyahu's agenda," said Mairav Zonstein of 972 Magazine.

"And while it is dangerous to rely solely on a single poll to back up any claim, this specific poll – no matter how flawed or skewed – happens to be an accurate reflection of the Israeli government's policies, much of its rhetoric, and the reality on the ground."

Zonstein added that despite past polling detailing widespread support for the general idea of a two-state solution, the latest poll demonstrates that when the specific details of the plan are outlined, the respondents are more likely to revert to the agendas of the parties that they support and vote for.

"Even though many polls over the years have shown and still show that a majority of Jewish Israelis support a two-state solution based more or less along the 1967 border with land swaps, such sentiment is reflected less and less in the way Israelis vote and talk.

"This new poll seems to provide a much more honest assessment of the reality on the ground and the reality in the halls of government," she said.

Palestinian officials are set to submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council by the end of the month demanding the end of the Israeli occupation and withdrawal of forces from the occupied West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

The text of the proposal is to state that an Israeli withdrawal must happen "as rapidly as possible and to be fully completed within a specified timeframe, not to exceed November 2016, and the achievement of the independence and sovereignty of the State of Palestine and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people."

The draft resolution requests "all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949."